Life-en-treats

This weekend I read Vyasa's Adhyatma Ramayana . It's stress is on spirituality when compared to the other versions of Ramayana, unlike Valmiki's even is astounding. In my review of Mahashweta Devi's  After Kurukshetra  I have written a bit about the relationship between causes and events in the world as envisaged in the Indian traditions. I wrote how stories gained a certain self-reflexive second level to them with the passing of time. The self-reflexivity shows in the later retellings of the main text through a mentioning of causes for events as known beforehand. The ending is often given away and  occasionally there is a twist. To the list of such self-reflexive texts that are also retellings, Adhyatma Ramayana can be easily added. In the Adhyatma Ramayana , when Rama asks Sita not to accompany him to the forest. Sita asks: "Rama, have you heard of any version of the Ramayana where Sita doesn't follow Rama into the forest? Why should, I, then stay be...

I am the sound of my veena... By:  Sushumna Kannan Date:   2009-03-31 Bangalore:   What makes every artiste's music unique? Sushumna Kannan looks for answers World Space's 24-hour Carnatic music channel, Shruti,  interviewed veena artiste E Gayathri recently. The interviews, in this time-slot, are interspersed with music by the artiste. I was fascinated and charmed by what Gayathri said about the sound or naadam of her veena. She said, "If I were to play a veena for about 150 hours, the veena gains a specific sound that is specifically mine."  Sublime:  Gayathri says the veena is an instrument that takes on the breath of the player Her three different veenas at home are all of the same naadam. How does this happen? She says the veena is an instrument that takes on the breath of the player. That is why the sound of an artiste's music is unique, irrespective of his/her style of playing or expertise. If you have listened to Gayathri's music, you will have realise...

Citizens engage in a dialogue over issues confronting society and discover new avenues of understanding and bonding. By Sushumna Kannan 12 Mar 2009, Citizen Matters Meta-Culture, a Bangalore-based Relationship and Conflict Management consulting company, organised an event called  Bengaluru Speaks  on 21st February 2009 at the Ashirvad Community Centre on St. Mark’s Road. Bengaluru Speaks , a community conversation series is one of Meta-Culture’s community-focused initiatives, and had for its eighth theme: “Competing Cultures: Morals, Malls and Marriages”. The stated goal of the programme was to engage the people of Bengaluru in constructive conversation about critical issues so as to strengthen relationships across the city and create a more secure, cohesive and viable community. The event was organised to facilitate dialogue ‘in times of a rapid change, socially and culturally,’ said Gayatri of Meta-Culture, as she introduced the theme and event. “What do you think of when you hear ...

Recently  a leading Kannada Newspaper ran a series on the colourful golmaals that take place in the acquiring and granting of a PhD. But that’s not everybody’s story you know. A PhD, if done sincerely needs many years of single-minded devotion. No Sunday. And nothing like a weekend. As is well-known, 3-4 years are required minimally and one would be constantly questioned on the thesis, its relevance and originality. Reading, grasping, writing and multiple other skills are required for a successful PhD, apart from discipline, patience, perseverance and a genuine quest for knowledge.  The only danger, of course is that although you may not be a born-nerd, you could end up one! I was telling a friend, just the other day, how you slowly forget that fine balance of making (normal) conversation, since you have stretched you attention-span for so much longer than others would. Or that your obsession about precise sentences/words bugs friends and family. A European scholar once told me t...

World Space's Satellite Radio's 24-hour Carnatic Music Station, Shruti interviewed Veena artiste E Gayathri last Saturday (21 st March 2009) morning. The interviews in this time-slot are interspersed with music by the artiste and reveal their artistry as the artistes themselves would describe it. I was fascinated and charmed by what E Gayathri said about the sound or naadam of her Veena. She said "if I were to play a Veena for about 150 hours, the Veena gains a sound that is specifically mine".  Her three different Veenas at home are all of the same naadam. How does this happen? She says the Veena is an instrument that takes on the breath of the player. That is why the sound of an artiste's music is unique, irrespective of his/her style of playing or expertise. If you have listened to Gayathri's music, you will have realized that the sound constitutes a major part of what we enjoy in her music. Sound rather than the craft. This is possibly what art-critic...

A friend sent this to me. This is one of those few good forwards, in the general lot of male chauvinist jokes that enter our inboxes unobtrusively. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a youth she's content to leave behind.... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry.. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a feeling of control over her destiny... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself.. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job...